INSPIRATION OF THE DAY

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Monday, July 6, 2009
Nude Recreation Week

Skinny-dippers will celebrate Nude Recreation Week July 6 - 12, 2009 at oceans and lakeside beaches, on boats and in hot tubs and backyard pools across the nation.

That's the word from The Naturist Society LLC of Oshkosh, Wisconsin, which has been coordinating local free beach groups in this celebration since 1975.

"Hard economic times are causing Americans to look even harder for nude and inexpensive places to visit.  It behooves public officials to give skinny-dipping its designated place in the sun by authorizing enough nude beaches and good, safe locations to meet our growing needs," says Nicky Hoffman Lee, spokeswoman for The Naturist Society (TNS).

"Designated clothing-optional areas allow choices.  Nobody needs to be offended, and those who wish to enjoy the wind, water and sun clothes-free may do so."

The theme for this year's Nude Recreation Week is, "TNS. The hear of grassroots naturism."  The Naturist Society has its roots in skinny-dipping on public lands from way back in 1975 when Lee Baxandall, TNS founder, stood on Truro Beach in Massachusetts and declared the very first National Nude Beach Day.  That even developed into National Nude Weekend and then into the present-day Nude Recreation Week.

Skinny-dipping has been a part of our culture since Adam and Eve.  True naturists realize that there doesn't have to be a special occasion to skinny-dip, they do it all year round.  They simply want to take this one week each year to show the general public that it is as American as apply pie, Uncle Sam and those wonderful Normal Rockwell paintings.

 Nude Recreation Week

Holidays Around the World

Cayman Islands Cayman Islands Constitution Day
Comoros Comoros National Day
Czech Republic Czech Republic Jan Hus Day
Guyana Guyana CARICOM Day
India India Hazrat Alis Birthday (Regional)
Iran Iran Imam Ali's Birthday
United Kingdom Isle of Man Tynwald Day (Manx National Day)
Kasakhstan Kazakhstan Day of the Capital
Lithuania Lithuania King Mindaugas Day
Malawi Malawi Independence Day
Burma Myanmar Waso Full Moos (Buddhist Lent Begins)
Grenadines Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Carnival Monday
Sri Lanka Sri Lanka Esala Full Moon Poya Day
Thailand Thailand Bridge Public Holiday
Zambia Zambia Heroes' Day

Today's Birthdays

Born Age  Name  Profession
1900 109 Frederica Sagor Maas American playwright 
1921 88 Nancy Reagan First Lady of the United States 
1923 86 Wojciech Jaruzelski President of Poland 
1931 78 Jean Campeau French Canadian businessman and politician 
1931 78 Della Reese American singer 
1933 76 Frank Austin English footballer 
1935 74 Tenzin Gyatso 14th Dalai Lama 
1937 72 Vladimir Ashkenazy Russian-born pianist and conductor 
1937 72 Ned Beatty American actor 
1937 72 Gene Chandler American singer 
1939 70 Jet Harris English bass guitarist 
1940 69 Nursultan Nazarbayev President of Kazakhstan 
1940 69 Jeannie Seely American singer 
1945 64 Burt Ward American actor 
1945 64 Rodney Matthews English fantasy artist and illustrator 
1946 63 George W. Bush 43rd President of the United States 
1946 63 Peter Singer Australian philosopher 
1946 63 Fred Dryer American football player and actor 
1946 63 Sylvester Stallone American actor 
1948 61 Nathalie Baye French actress 
1948 61 Jean-Pierre Blackburn French Canadian politician 
1948 61 Brad Park Canadian hockey player 
1948 61 Wadih Saadeh Lebanese-Australian poet 
1948 61 Tom Curley American media executive 
1950 59 John Byrne American comic book author & artist 
1950 59 Hélčne Scherrer Canadian politician 
1951 58 Geoffrey Rush Australian actor 
1952 57 Grant Goodeve American actor 
1953 56 Nanci Griffith American singer 
1954 55 Allyce Beasley American actress 
1954 55 Willie Randolph former New York Mets manager 
1955 54 Frank Sontag American radio personality 
1955 54 William Wall Irish writer 
1956 53 Casey Sander American actor 
1957 52 Ron Duguay Canadian ice hockey player 
1958 51 Jennifer Saunders English actress 
1959 50 Richard Dacoury French basketball player 
1961 48 Rick Price singer/songwriter 
1961 48 Robin Antin Reality television, personality & model 
1963 46 Todd Burns baseball player 
1963 46 Lance Johnson American baseball player 
1964 45 Cristina D'Avena Italian singer & actress 
1966 43 Brian Posehn American actor 
1966 43 Glenn Scarpelli American child actor and singer
1967 42 James Hannon Bronx filmmaker 
1967 42 Heather Nova Bermudian singer 
1967 42 Omar Olivares Puerto Rican baseball player 
1969 40 Brian Van Holt American actor 
1969 40 Fernando Redondo Argentine footballer 
1970 39 Inspectah Deck American rapper 
1970 39 Frank Salvato II Italian-American sound engineer and composer 
1971 38 Kenya D. Williamson American actress 
1972 37 Isabelle Boulay French-Canadian singer 
1972 37 Greg Norton American baseball player 
1972 37 Mark Gasser British pianist 
1973 36 William Lee Scott American actor 
1974 35 Zé Roberto Brazilian footballer 
1974 35 Babi Xavier Brazilian presenter and actress 
1975 34 Amir-Abbas Fakhravar Iranian journalist and activist 
1975 34 Sebastián Rulli Argentine actor 
1975 34 50 Cent American rapper 
1977 32 Con Blatsis Australian footballer 
1977 32 Makhaya Ntini South African cricketer 
1977 32 Craig Handley British film director 
1977 32 Max Mirnyi Belarus professional tennis player
1978 31 Tia Mowry and Tamera Mowry American actresses 
1978 31 Kevin Senio New Zealand rugby player 
1979 30 Nic Cester Australian musician (Jet) 
1980 29 Pau Gasol Spanish basketball player 
1980 29 Joell Ortiz Puerto Rican-American Hip hop artist 
1981 28 Nnamdi Asomugha American football player 
1982 27 Tay Zonday American singer and keyboardist 
1983 26 Brad Miller Australian professional Australian rules footballer
1983 26 Gregory Smith Canadian actor 
1983 26 Thijs Van Valkengoed Dutch breaststroke swimmer
1984 25 Lauren Harris British rock singer 
1984 25 James Henderson American model 
1985 24 Heiki Nabi Estonian wrestler
1986 23 Derrick Williams American football player 
1987 22 Kate Nash English singer/songwriter 
1987 22 Matt O'Leary American actor 
1987 22 Caroline Trentini Brazilian model 
1990 19 Jeremy Suarez American actor 
1990 19 Ajoo South Korean singer 
1994 15 Rebecca Rosso and Camilla Rosso British actresses 

Nancy Reagan 

Nancy Reagan
Della Reese 
Della Reese
Burt Ward 
Burt Ward
Sylvester Stallone
Sylvester Stallone
Sylvester Stallone
Jennifer Sanders
Ab-Fabolicious Jennifer Sanders
William Lee Scott 
William Lee Scott
Sebastián Rulli
Sebastián Rulli
Sebastián Rulli
Brad Miller 
Brad Miller
Gregory Smith 
Gregory Smith
Heiki Nabi 
Heiki Nabi
Matt O'Leary 
Matt O'Leary (Right with Garrett Hedlund)

Weekend Box Office Estimates

Ice Age 3
TW LW Title Studio Wkend Gross % Chg Theaters Chg Average Total Gross Budget Wk #
1 N Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs Fox $42,500,000 - 4,099 - $10,368 $67,506,000 $90 1
2 1 Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen P/DW $42,500,000 -61.00% 4,234 - $10,038 $293,459,000 $200 2
3 N Public Enemies Uni. $26,172,000 - 3,334 - $7,850 $41,044,000 $100 1
4 2 The Proposal BV $12,779,000 -31.20% 3,099 41 $4,124 $94,233,000 $40 3
5 3 The Hangover WB $10,415,000 -38.80% 3,070 -455 $3,393 $204,197,000 $35 5
6 4 Up BV $6,579,000 -49.60% 2,656 -831 $2,477 $264,873,000 $175 6
7 5 My Sister's Keeper WB $5,255,000 -57.80% 2,606 - $2,017 $25,964,000 $30 2
8 7 The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 Sony $2,500,000 -54.10% 1,908 -1,087 $1,310 $58,471,000 $100 4
10 9 Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian Fox $2,100,000 -42.40% 1,419 -831 $1,480 $167,763,000 $150 7
9 6 Year One Sony $2,100,000 -65.10% 2,240 -784 $938 $38,088,000 $60 3
11 8 Star Trek Par. $1,815,000 -51.10% 1,148 -675 $1,581 $249,847,000 $150 9
12 10 Away We Go Focus $1,100,000 -35.60% 506 11 $2,174 $6,074,000 $17 5
13 19 Whatever Works SPC $1,067,000 196.50% 355 320 $3,006 $2,017,000 - 3
14 17 Cheri Mira. $388,000 -4.40% 140 64 $2,771 $1,024,000 - 2
15 20 X-Men Origins: Wolverine Fox $315,000 1.60% 303 -57 $1,040 $178,358,000 $150 10
16 31 Moon SPC $300,000 140.80% 47 26 $6,383 $983,000 - 4
17 13 Terminator Salvation WB $296,000 -72.80% 311 -791 $952 $122,700,000 $200 7
18 11 Land of the Lost Uni. $293,000 -75.50% 385 -1,119 $761 $47,613,000 $100 5
19 14 Imagine That Par. $285,000 -69.80% 409 -726 $697 $14,786,000 $55 4
20 15 Drag Me to Hell Uni. $258,000 -55.80% 298 -361 $866 $41,063,000 $30 6
21 18 Monsters Vs. Aliens P/DW $251,000 -31.20% 281 -30 $893 $196,553,000 $175 15
22 21 Food, Inc. Magn. $240,000 -17.70% 83 8 $2,892 $1,275,000 - 4
- 27 The Hurt Locker Sum. $126,000 -13.30% 9 5 $14,000 $365,000 - 2
- 24 Easy Virtue SPC $106,000 -56.80% 95 -105 $1,116 $2,266,000 - 7
- N Girl from Monaco Magn. $90,000 - 21 - $4,286 $90,000 - 1
- 22 Dance Flick Par. $74,000 -72.60% 85 -65 $871 $25,281,000 $25 7
- 32 The Stoning of Soraya M. RAtt. $73,800 -35.90% 25 -2 $2,952 $293,000 - 2
- 28 The Brothers Bloom Sum. $73,000 -44.50% 153 -49 $477 $3,267,000 - 8
- 29 The Soloist P/DW $71,000 -43.90% 156 -72 $455 $31,673,000 - 11
- 38 Tetro AZoe. $26,900 -40.80% 11 -4 $2,445 $235,000 - 4
- 39 Every Little Step SPC $24,600 -36.30% 26 -13 $946 $1,476,000 - 12
- 67 Herb & Dorothy Arth. $7,900 0.70% 4 - $1,975 $71,900 - 5
- 68 Sin Nombre Focus $3,880 -50.20% 12 -8 $323 $2,528,000 - 16
- 44 Crossing Over Wein. $103,000 116.00% 38 26 $2,711 $273,000 - 3
- 45 Everlasting Moments IFC $62,400 54.30% 13 8 $4,800 $119,000 - 2
- 40 Waltz with Bashir SPC $59,100 -32.50% 82 -47 $721 $2,133,000 - 12
- 42 Wendy and Lucy Osci. $59,000 7.30% 40 7 $1,475 $636,000 - 14
- N Brothers at War Gold. $35,000 - 7 - $5,000 $35,000 - 1
- 46 Play the Game Slow $32,200 -19.80% 16 -4 $2,013 $165,000 - 3
- N Tokyo Sonata Reg. $30,000 - 2 - $15,000 $30,000 - 1
- 48 Fanboys Wein. $25,100 -24.90% 27 -18 $930 $586,000 - 6
- 58 Tokyo! LibE $20,300 -11.90% 6 5 $3,383 $52,600 - 2
- 66 12 SPC $12,000 -0.30% 7 2 $1,714 $30,800 - 2
- N Z (40th anniv. re-issue) Rialto $10,500 - 1 - $10,500 $10,500 - 1
- - Robert Blecker Wants Me Dead Abr. $2,600 - 1 - $2,600 $8,770 - 2

Today ...

Liberty Open
July 2-6, 2009
New York

GLTA Liberty Open

Metropolitan Tennis Group, the 2008 GLTA Club of the Year, proudly presents the Liberty Open. The GLTA-sanctioned tournament is played at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, home to the US Open. Players from across the US and from around the world come to experience the courts where tennis greats Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Justine Henin and Andy Roddick have played. This invitational is open to all tennis enthusiasts! Enter early to reserve your spot! Application information below.

2009 Liberty Open Schedule and Information

Please refer to this page for general tournament information. Information will be updated as made available. Registered players will receive confirmation and further details.

Schedule:
Full tournament schedule and information available here.

Draw Party: Thurs, July 2nd, 6 - 9 PM | 70 park avenue hotel
We kcick off the festivities at our new host hotel. Drink and appetizer specials apply. Special prix-fixe dinner tonight for tournament participants.


Play begins: Friday, July 3rd, 8:00 AM
The Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, home to the U.S. Open, hosts MTG's Liberty Open. For traveling information consult here. Map of the facilities available here. Check in area will be at the Open Store near court #11. Please allow at least 15 minutes walk from the subway or parking lot to tournament desk.

Banquet: Sunday, July 5th, 6:30 - 10:30 PM | Rio's Churrascaria (340 Park Av South)
This is the Place! The ultimate in Brazilian Grill Dining. For more information or to invite non-player guests, please contact the tournament directors at LibertyOpen@aol.com


Finals: Monday, July 6th. Any players who make it to the finals should expect to be available from 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM on Monday.

Closing Party: Monday, July 6th, 6 PM | Bamboo 52 (344 W 52nd St)
MTG's proud sponsor bar - bar, lounge and sushi bar. Drinks specials and merriment guaranteed!

 Liberty Open

Video

A view from the Sears Tower "Ledge"
Photo Gallery Here

Astronomy Picture of the Day

Genesis Mission's Hard Impact
Genesis Mission's Hard Impact
Credit: Genesis Mission, NASA 

click above image for a higher-resolution graphic

A flying saucer from outer space crash-landed in the Utah desert in 2004 after being tracked by radar and chased by helicopters. No space aliens were involved, however. The saucer, pictured above, was the Genesis sample return capsule, part of a human-made robot Genesis spaceship launched in 2001 by NASA itself to study the Sun. The unexpectedly hard landing at over 300 kilometers per hour occurred because the parachutes did not open as planned. The Genesis mission had been orbiting the Sun collecting solar wind particles that are usually deflected away by Earth's magnetic field. Despite the crash landing, many return samples remained in good enough condition to analyze and research is ongoing. So far, discoveries include new details about the composition of the Sun and the effects of the solar wind on unprotected material.

Photo Of The Day

Bare Buns Run
Bare Buns Run

Competitors gather before the start of the Bare Buns Run, a 5-km clothing optional run, at Wreck Beach in Vancouver, B.C., on Sunday July 5, 2009. Wreck Beach is the Canada's first and largest clothing-optional beach. (DARRYL DYCK, ASSOCIATED PRESS / July 5, 2009)

Daily Inspirations

Let's get nude and find some recreation
Daily Inspiration 
 
Did you say recreation or inspiration?
Daily Inspiration 
 
You can be nude and find recreation
Daily Inspiration 
 
Nude Recreation Week
Nude Recreation Week 
Should I still be wearing clothes?  Click me to remove them.
 

Random Thoughts

Random Thoughts

 

Random Thoughts

Fin

Today's Mostly Useless Fact
In the United States, a pound of potato chips costs two hundred times more than a pound of potatoes.

Tomorrow: All-Star Game